IN the past week I was privileged to attend two separate launch events for Salisbury’s new amalgamated arts body, Wiltshire Creative – one in London at Tate Britain, and one in Salisbury, at our own Playhouse.

The new organisation brings together the expertise of Salisbury Playhouse, Salisbury International Arts Festival and Salisbury Arts Centre under a single umbrella.

The significance of the London launch cannot be overstated.

The Wiltshire Creative model, which allows the member organisations to share some back office functions and to collaborate on grant applications and other projects, while still retaining complete day-to-day creative independence, has been widely heralded as ground breaking and the way forward for regional arts.

Salisbury’s project came to fruition during my tenure as Minister for Arts, Heritage and Culture, so I was fortunate to see at first hand the excitement and optimism it generated in the wider arts community.

Wiltshire Creative will now receive funding that is on a par with the total of the funding grants to its three constituent parts. Taking into account the savings the new structure will produce, this will mean a significant net increase in the amount of money being spent on frontline arts provision – and that is something that is extremely welcome.

The breadth and depth of Salisbury’s cultural life is rightly famous, forming a major part of our offer to visitors – and it is wonderful to see that this commitment extends far beyond the city’s biggest arts organisations.

For example, preparations are once again underway for June’s Farley Music Festival, a gem of an event, which has once again attracted a roster of world class classical performers.

Church acoustics are often said to be a musicians’ friend and the festival is a chance to hear stunning music in the beautiful and intimate setting of All Saints, Farley.

I would strongly urge anyone who has not yet discovered Farley Music Festival to look up this year’s programme and give it a try.